‘Tentative’ depth chart released

April 12, 2013

MORGANTOWN - Dana Holgorsen finally relented and released a spring depth chart Thursday for the West Virginia University football team, but made it quite clear that the listing could change practice by practice.

"I figured I would make it easier for our media relations department," Holgorsen said. "They needed something for the spring game that will serve as a tentative depth chart. If nothing else, you can see who is playing what position."

Holgorsen called the depth chart "tentative," saying it will be vastly different by the start of fall camp.

"In the fall, we will add another 20 guys that we expect to come in and compete for playing time," he said. "It's going to change in August and September. Guys are going to get bigger. Guys get bigger and mature. Who knows what their ceiling is once they get older."

The chart still lists an "or" at the quarterback position, as three players battle for the right to be the starting signal-caller come September. Junior Paul Millard is still in a heated competition with red-shirt freshman Ford Childress and true freshman Chavas Rawlins, who enrolled in college early.

"It's been pretty fun, but at the same time, it's really competitive," Childress said. "We learn from each other mistakes and from each other's games."

Fact Box

WVU spring depth chart

Offense

QB: Ford Childress OR Paul Millard OR Chavas Rawlins

LT: Quinton Spain, Nick Kindler

LG: Marquis Lucas, Tony Matteo

C: Pat Eger, Tyler Orlosky

RG: Mark Glowinski, Russell Haughton-James

RT: Curtis Feigt, Nick Kindler

RB: Andrew Buie, Dustin Garrison, Dreamius Smith

HB: Cody Clay, Will Johnson

X: K.J. Myers, Daikiel Shorts

Y: Connor Arlia, Jordan Thompson

Z: Kevin White, Dante Mathis

Defense

DE: Will Clarke, Eric Kinsey

Nose: Shaq Rowell, Christian Brown

DE: Kyle Rose, Noble Nwachukwu

Sam: Isaiah Bruce, Doug Rigg

Will: Nick Kwiatkoski, Jared Barber

Buck: Dozie Ezemma, Garrett Hope

Spur: Wes Tonkery, Hodari Christian

FC: Nana Kyeremeh, Brandon Napoleon

BC: Brodrick Jenkins, Rick Rumph

FS: Karl Joseph, K.J. Dillon

SS: Darwin Cook, Jarrod Harper

Millard, who spent the last two seasons at Geno Smith's backup, said football is all about competition, whether it's against an opponent on a Saturday afternoon or a teammate for playing time.

"This is just another battle," Millard said. "The quarterbacks are trying to be more consistent on a daily basis."

The Mountaineers have just four practices left before the annual Gold-Blue scrimmage game at 2 p.m., April 20. Holgorsen said Saturday will be a "heavy, heavy practice" with a mini-scrimmage tacked on at the end of practice. The team has yet to stage a full-fledged scrimmage, which Holgorsen said could come as early as Tuesday.

"We have done a lot of teaching and a lot of evaluating," the coach said. "We have a long way to go on all three sides of the ball. We are not prepared to name any starters, and in my mind, I am not prepared to figure out what type of team we will have yet."

Holgorsen said he has been pleased with the focus on improvement the players have shown this spring.

"Nobody thinks we are any good," he said. "I encourage our guys not to read anything online, on the message boards or any other publication. No one knows what our team is going to be like. The only people that can dictate that are the coaches and the players. We have to come in and get better every day."